Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1887-04-06

STUDY OF FACE LINES.
The Cardinal Rules and Principle
OF Physiognomy.
Contradictions, Suggestions, Dlsappolnt-
ments and Surprises Expressed by the
Human Face-An Interesting Source
OF Practical Knowledge
fnicago News1

tChicaso News.l
'As stupid as an acre of face can make
him." was a witty woman's description of
Q dull man. She meant that the black
surface of his countenance gave one the
impression of space, probably because the
landmarks were not so disturbed as to
create expression
Such plain rules as these, known alike
TO artists and shirt-makers, that the cir
cumference of the wrist is half that Of the
neck, that the length Of the hand usually
corresponds with that of the face, and
that the face can be divided into thirds
forehead, nose, and chin-mean very little
70 the character student They are merely
the first stakes driven in the survey.
The most important point is the proper
ton Of the features. II you look at the
ideal head Ia full face you will see that the
line passing through the center of both
eyes divides the head exactly in the mid
die, giving, for the incest possible balance,
as much height below as above.
Next, every feature and every trait
should be entirely in harmony with all the
rest, all expressing the same meaning. It
Is not enough that one portion is made ac-
cordtag to artistic canons-a fine nose, q
beautiful mouth, apoetic forehead, noble
throat and chin; but the entire face should
correspond with its most striking and per-
feet feature, If not in contour, at least In
significance. Physiognomists have tried
too much to separate qualities, 10 locate
certain attributes in certain parts, where
rs il is as much the relation Of every one
to the whole that should be studied in de-
termining character. The whole is in
every part.
Physiognomy has never yet been re-
duced to an exact science. Lavater, whom
Goethe called "the best, greatest, wisest,
sincerest Of all mortal or immortal men
that know" made good beginning, and
is perhaps our best standard. Delsarte
had a marvellous perception Of how the
spirit works through and upon the body,
yet 30 complex is the subject it can not
yet be said to be reduced TO q demonstra-
bic system.
In connection with the outward form
there is always to be considered the mys-
tic principle within it that we call blood"
for want of a better name. This invaria-
bly, tell oftentimes spelling the fairest
model and quite as often ennobling and
refining the ruggedest exterior.
The element of expression Is not the
least battling one in the human compost
ton. Why one face is vapid and another
radiant can not be determined by analysis
Of the flesh. One flights up" but the
source Of the illumination is as difficult to
establish as the starting point of sheet
lightning in a cloud. Another darkens
with a black passion, but from whence the
curtain fell who can tell
The two most important lines in every
face are those which represent the cleft OF
the mouth and the contour of the upper
eyelid. They are always horizontal, and
horizontal lines are signs of stability and
persistence. It has been asserted by care
fnl nhca1svare that fhara
foreheads and eyes than good mouths and
chins. II that be true men have the ad-
vantage over women, because q beard can
cover the defective line of chin and the
mustache can hide the pinched or sensual
lips.
Small mouths have tecn likened to rose
buds, but it is the bread, flexible, his
trionic mouth, after all, that has the most
meaning n it A certain form OF the
upper lip called ''Cupid's bow" is con-
sidered very beautiful The center Of its
upper limo comes down to q sharp point,
and the center OF its under line comes
also into point, rather less sharp, and
forming little ball or drop that some-
times delicately clasp the lower lip, fire.
quently hangs loose above it and parted
from it. From these two points the lines
81. eep away on either side in two pairs of
| ogeo curves. Printers are never satisfied
without this kind Of q mouth, and actresses
| initiate it with their rouge. Some oae has
! said Mature makes the other features,
but the individ ual is responsible for his
mouth" which would seem to be true, as
in children the mouth is entirely express
sion less and ungoverned, while the eyes
reveal the feelings.
| If the upper head expresses the intelli-
| gence Of q man, the lower ono reveals the
~ af- 9Th ~ ~
| features, or the ones that have most to do
with passing changes of thought and feel
| ing, ere the nostrils, eyes and brows.
Mrs. Siddons and John Kemble, both rep
resenting q very high order of beauty, had
| very expressive nostrils. The class OF
muscles that operate them were in both
especially powerful
The eyes are the tellers Of secrets and
their language is quite as well understood
as that OF the tongue. They are armed
with the most potent Of human weapons
| tears.
The inner extremity Of the eye brow is
very expressive feature; there Is as
much menace in it as in clinched fist.
Who hos not noticed the resemblance to
animals in human facesl 1t was said that
| George Eliot looked like a horse Goethe
| like q lion, and Carlyle like grizzly boar
! There are plenty Of human birds. Thoreau
had an actual bird-wilderness about him.
His high nose was like beak and his eyes
! had the alertness and clcarness of the
woods creatures. Women ara sometimes
called hens, from their narrow range of
ideas and their fussy, cackling ways
Besides these we see among human
types the dog and the donkey, the sheep
and the hog, the squirrel and the rat.
II is fortunate for both men and women
that IS years rob them Of the beauty of
solor and contour they add by the delicate
| gravure Of character, line upon line pen
cilpoint upon pencil point, the history OF
the souls progress. Every mark tells
something of the inner history, and he
would be great indeed who could gather
mans muliiform passions and expert
cnces, label each with its properly certi.
ded tag, assign it its place in face or
figure, and then say: "Bcho!d NV cxact
1 Scienc0 Dhysioouomv